When I started Grits in 2004, the Texas Law blog, Off the Kuff and Houston's Clear Thinkers were really the only Texas blogs even tangentially covering criminal justice topics. (I'm probably forgetting somebody, so feel free to correct me in the comments.) Now we are blessed to have quite a few Texas blogs devoted entirely to the justice system, and several have had excellent recent post that deserve Grits readers' attention:
Some of us non-Texas criminal justice blogs are doing fine work too, y'know ;)
ReplyDeleteAs Lyle Lovett sang, "That's right, you're not from Texas, but Texas wants you anyway." :)
ReplyDeleteI'll try and spread the love a little more widely. But you have to admit, it's pretty impressive to have that many quality state-level blogs (and more) focused on the criminal justice system here. I don't know that that's true of any other state - maybe CA, but I'm not sure even there.
I agree. It is impressive. I think I might be the only criminal law blog written by a lawyer in Connecticut.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a lawyer, of course, but we have several criminal defense lawyer blogs, a public defender blogger, an Assistant DA blogger (who I wish would write more), the DA user forum, a blogging judge, prison guards, prison ministry workers, probation officers, (though no parole officers yet), and even a couple of cops. Tom Kirkendall in Houston does corporate crime stuff really well (including Enron, et. al., plus the Astros) We also exported a fine PD blogger, Injustice Anywhere, from Dallas to Washington state.
ReplyDeleteMost of those are state or local-focused, too. I think it's a) because in a state of 23 million there's plenty to write about here, and b) we sort of think of ourselves as our own country anyway and secretly still wouldn't mind seceding. ;) best,
And I'm just an amateur political writer. I've written about criminal justice issues here because there's no lack of material, and you can't really say you cover politics if you don't.
ReplyDeleteStill won't get me to move there ;)
ReplyDelete@Gideon: Your loss, amigo. From the same Lyle Lovett tune:
ReplyDelete"at a dance hall down in Texas
That's the finest place to be
The women they all look beautiful
And the men will buy your beer for free" :)
What more could you ask for? best,
And as the magnet on my fridge says
ReplyDelete"You may all go to Hell and I will go to Texas" ~ Davy Crocket
Scott, how about a mini series on other states and some of their good prison/youth justice programmes?